McDonald will be the man in charge of the Old Firm derby on Sunday

By Chris McLaughlin

Celtic have confirmed that they have met with the Scottish Football Association to express concerns about refereeing standards.

A club source had earlier told BBC Scotland of their frustration about decisions after analysing footage - including the last two Old Firm games.

But SFA president George Peat says the Celtic source was being mischievous.

He said the news would "exert additional pressure on match officials" ahead of Sunday's derby with Rangers.

That game will be refereed by Dougie McDonald, whose last Old Firm match was last season's Co-operative Insurance Cup final, which Celtic won 2-0 after extra-time.

The refereeing performances are a concern and a frustration to us Celtic source

Celtic are seven points behind reigning Scottish Premier League champions Rangers, who have a game in hand, ahead of the match at Ibrox.

The sides drew their last meeting, on 3 January, with Celtic believing that Marc-Antoine Fortune was denied a goal in the 1-1 draw.

Referee Steve Conroy ruled that the striker had fouled Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Rangers won the last Ibrox encounter 2-1 in October, when Celtic had several claims for penalties denied by Craig Thomson.

"We are considering contacting the SFA to highlight our concerns at some of the major decisions we feel have gone against us this season," said the Celtic source.

"The refereeing performances are a concern and a frustration to us."

Celtic also have concerns about offside decisions given against Robbie Keane, their recent loan signing from Tottenham Hotspur.

"It seems that officials are struggling to keep up with his pace," said the source.

"Several key offside decisions have gone against him purely because of his speed."

Hugh Dallas, the SFA's head of refereeing development, this month himself expressed concerns about the standard of decision-making, suggesting that it had been a disappointing season for Scottish officials.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to Celtic's concerns

Celtic have now confirmed officially that a preliminary meeting has already taken place with the SFA and that they hope that more productive meetings will follow.

Indeed, it is understood that another meeting has already been scheduled, but the original leak from the club angered Peat.

"We find it disappointing and somewhat bizarre that, in the build-up to an Old Firm derby, an unnamed Celtic 'source' would seek to exert additional pressure on match officials by issuing ill-timed and fundamentally inaccurate comments," said the SFA president.

"The validity of these comments is questionable in any case, since the 'source' is not courageous enough to put his name to them.

"In actual fact, discussions between the Scottish FA and Celtic have taken place, but the contents of these discussions will remain private, as was agreed with the club.

"I am sure the Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, will be concerned by the fact that someone has elected to speak on behalf of his club, seemingly without consent, and therefore undermined his authority."

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